Non-tobacco non-thc industrial hemp fiber smoking article

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a non-tobacco smoking article for consumers to use to make their own herbal smoking articles. It is a non-THC containing industrial hemp product, made with industrial hemp, cellulose and other ingredients. The product is an herbal, non-nicotine and non-hallucinogenic alternative to tobacco wraps and cigarette rolling papers.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention is a legal use of industrial hemp¹ as a smoking article that does not contain THC. This invention employs hemp as its primary ingredient, which enables users to easily make consistent non-tobacco smoking articles using their own choice of herbs other than tobacco. The present invention provides an alternative to tobacco papers, tobacco leafs and homogenized tobacco smoking articles² and is a non-nicotine and non-hallucinogenic product. ¹ The term “industrial hemp” means stems, stalks, fibers and other portions of the plant Cannabis sativa, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. See 21 USCS § 802 (16); 21 CFR 1308.35 (Drug Enforcement Administration regulation exempting industrial hemp from Schedule 1 controlled substance controls); 68 FR 14119.² See e.g. Sinclair, U.S. Pat. No. 7,751,730—Cigar Tube; Sinclair, U.S. Pat. No. 9,161,568—Tobacco Product.

Hemp is an ancient industrial product, which has had long use as writing paper, rope and construction and packaging material. Hemp was used in the printing of the Gutenberg Bible and was the writing stock for the Declaration of Independence.³ Hemp has been used as one of the ingredients in cigarette papers, where it was combined primarily with wood pulp, to create thin, bleached and fragile papers in packages containing multiple sheets.⁴ ³ In 1916, U.S. Department of Agriculture chief scientists Lyster Hoxie Dewey and Jason L. Merrill created paper made from hemp pulp and concluded that paper from hemp plants was “favorable in comparison with those used with pulp wood.” Dewey and Merrill, U.S.D.A. Bulletin No. 404, Hemp Hurds as Paper-Making Material, Washington, D.C., Oct. 14, 1916. Page 25.⁴ See e.g. RAW Organic Unbleached Hemp Rolling Papers; Big Bambu Pure Hemp rolling papers

While prior patents for smoking articles have referred to hemp as a possible, alternative material for smoking articles,⁵ this invention differs and is unique for several claims:

-   -   1. This invention is hemp-specific and excludes claims for         smoking articles, papers and smoking materials which utilize         tobacco and other fibers as the primary component or ingredient,         and is intended as an alternative to tobacco;     -   2. This invention contains ingredients to maintain the         flexibility and moistness, and is thicker and more durable, and         as a result is less fragile than prior smoking articles;     -   3. This invention provides for a smoking article almost         exclusively composed of hemp;     -   4. This invention provides a larger size smoking articles,         capable of containing legal herbs, other than tobacco.     -   5. This invention provides a more cigar-like smoking experience,         unlike the popular thin cigarette-type hemp rolling papers;     -   6. This invention does not contain salts, bleach, calcium         carbonate or chemicals to increase the burn rate;⁶     -   7. This invention does not contain flax, eucalyptus, esparto,         rice or bleached pine sulfate chemical pulp;     -   8. This invention and patent do not attempt to obtain rights to         alternative products or suggest that this invention applies to         the multitude of other plants that have been smoke, roasted or         burned throughout human history;⁸ and     -   9. This invention is unique to hemp and improves upon prior         patents and patent applications for hemp smoking articles, which         only claim hemp as a possible alternative fiber,⁹ or contain         vague references to hemp in the patent specification. ⁵ See e.g.         Idheileh, U.S. Pat. No. 8,646,598, claim 7 (“A rolling paper and         packaging configuration combination as recited in claim 1,         wherein said rolling paper substrate is fabricated from one of:         paper; homogenized paper; homogenized tobacco-impregnated paper;         homogenized tobacco; wood pulp; hemp; flax; rice straw; and a         tobacco leaf”).⁶ See e.g. Riedesser, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,589,         Specification, p. 5 (listing calcium carbonate, burn promoting         salt sodium acetate, potassium citrate and sodium citrate as         ingredients).⁷ See e.g. Idheileh, U.S. Pat. No. 8,646,598, claim         15; Riedesser, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,589, Specification, pp. 5-6.⁸         See e.g. Sinclair, U.S. Pat. No. 9,095,173, Specification, p. 4         [029-043] (“One embodiment includes cellulose sheets in         combination with sheets comprised of different smokable         materials chosen from any combination of the following types of         materials: natural leaf, homogenized tobacco paper, hemp, hemp         paper, cotton paper, transparent cellulose, non-transparent         cellulose, pipe tobacco, different types of flavored tobacco,         tea leaves, kanna, blue lotus, salvia, salvia eivinorm, wild         dagga, kratom, herbal non-tobacco, Celandine Poppy, Mugwort,         Purple Lavender Flowers, Coltsfoot Leaf, Ginger root, California         Poppy, Sinicuichi, St. John's Wort, Capillarius herba, Yerba         Lenna Yesca, Calea Zacatechichi, Leonurus Sibericus Flowers,         Wild Dagga Flowers, Klip Dagga Leaf, Damiana, Hookah, Hemia         salicifolia, Kava, Avena Sativa, scotch broom topps, Valarian,         capillarius, herba, Wild clip dagga, Leonurus sibiricus, Kanna,         Sinicuichi, and/or lactuca virosa.”).⁹ See e.g. Riedesser, U.S.         Pat. No. 4,984,589, claim 17 (“Wrapper, according to claim         wherein said wrapper formed of cellulose comprises at least one         of flax, hemp, esparto, pine sulfate and eucalyptus chemical         pulp.”).

The present invention also provides improved burning characteristics and smoke flow for a non-THC, industrial hemp smoking article and packaging to preserve the product's flexibility, for a consumer to manipulate to create their own non-THC containing hemp smoking articles.

Description of the Related Art

The market for smoking articles has been dominated by mass produced tobacco products for decades. See e.g. Gomez, U.S. Pat. No. 7,604,008 (Smoking Kit for Customizing a Tobacco Product). While there are a few exotic clove smoking articles and smoking material mixtures of grain, herbs and fruits, none is hemp exclusive. See e.g. Breckwoldt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,929 (Non-Tobacco Smoking Materials make from dried grain); Garrard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,059 (Citrus Flavored Tobacco Articles); White, U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,836 (preparation of cigarette fillings by processing cloves and herbs into sheet material). However, the overwhelming majority of smoking articles still include tobacco as the filler or the wrapper.¹⁰ ¹⁰ See e.g. Sinclair, U.S. Pat. No. 9,095,173, claim 5 (“The method of claim 1, wherein step “a” the first sheet is homogenized tobacco material.”).

Many smokers prefer herbal smoking materials that do not contain nicotine. See e.g. Fan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,010. Hemp and the legal smoking materials this product is designed to use do not contain nicotine.

This invention improves upon the deficiencies of prior hemp smoking article inventions. Sinclair, U.S. Pat. No. 9,095,173, mentions hemp, hemp paper or hemp THC-free in the Specification as possible alternative materials, along with 44 other plants, but does not include hemp in the patent's claims. The claims of Kesselman, U.S. Pat. No. 9,072,319, only include hemp additives as an option for the glue on the edge of a rolling paper. (Claim 6: “The rolling paper of claim 5, wherein the first, second and/or third adhesive further comprises water, artificial or natural colorings, artificial or natural flavorings, artificial or natural sweeteners, hemp additives or combinations thereof.”). Hemp is only referenced in the Specification as one of several possible plant materials by Kesselman, U.S. Pat. No. 9,072,319, Specification, p. 5 (“The paper structure 100 may be a paper material derived from a plant fiber. Suitable plant fiber materials may be selected from the group of cellulose paper, cellophane (cellulose and glycerin), hemp, palm, banana peel, rice paper, tobacco leaf, flax, wood fiber, and combinations thereof”).

Similarly, Idheileh, U.S. Pat. No. 8,646,598 and Riedesser, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,589, claim hemp as one of several possible fibers. Idheileh, claim 7 (“A rolling paper and packaging configuration combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said rolling paper substrate is fabricated from one of: paper; homogenized paper; homogenized tobacco-impregnated paper; homogenized tobacco; wood pulp; hemp; flax; rice straw; and a tobacco leaf”), claim 15 (“A rolling paper and packaging configuration combination as recited in claim 10, said rolling paper substrate is fabricated of one of: Paper; homogenized paper, homogenized tobacco-impregnated paper; homogenized tobacco; wood pulp; hemp; flax; rice straw; and a tobacco leaf”). Reidesser, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,589, claim 17 (“Wrapper, according to claim wherein said wrapper formed of cellulose comprises at least one of flax, hemp, esparto, pine sulfate and eucalyptus chemical pulp.”).

Recent patent applications for hemp smoking articles, similarly contain vague references to hemp as one alternative fiber without any specific claims for hemp paper, or the composition of the hemp paper. See Idheileh, U.S. Application No. 20130209753, claim 7 (“A rolling paper and packaging configuration combination as recited in claim 1, said rolling paper substrate is fabricated of one of: wood pulp, hemp, flax, rice straw, a tobacco leaf, and esparto”); George, U.S. Application No. 20140360519, claim 2 (“The two-ply cigar wrap of claim 1, wherein said inner wrapper is made from refined or unrefined hemp, rice or wood based paper, being 12-15 mgs and having a range of 0-40 mgs and capable of being scented”), claim 9 (“The two-ply cigar of claim 8, wherein said inner wrapper is made from refined or unrefined hemp or rice paper, being 12-15 mgs and having a range of 0-40 mgs and capable of being scented”); Fallon, U.S. Application No. 2012092879, Specification (“Alternatively, one or more sheets of material 20 may include one or more types of materials used in creating smoking articles other than tobacco or paper. For example, hemp products or other products may he used.”).

None of the foregoing patents and patent application describes or claims the components needed to create a flexible, tear resistant and usable hemp paper for a smoking article, such as the present invention. Riedesser, U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,569, only provides example formulations of smoking article wrappers with chemical additives to control the burning rate, so a cigarette will self-extinguish, but will not go out too quickly. Hemp is only mentioned by Riedesser as an alternate material for bleached flax without any particular discussion of hemp's properties and without any consideration of maintaining the flexibility, moistness and strength of a hemp wrap.

As noted above, there are numerous deficiencies in the hemp papers that are known in the prior art. Hemp smoking articles prepared using prior inventions do not provide the preferred smoking experience for several reasons, including that the hemp cigarette papers are frequently thinner than the papers of commercially-prepared cigarettes, hand-rolled cigarettes lack stiffness and the papers lack hemp flavor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a non-tobacco, non-THC, industrial hemp smoking article for consumers to use to make their own herbal smoking articles. The present invention is to be used with a variety of legal herbs, other than tobacco, including but not limited to Damiana, Valerian, Passion Flower, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Green Tea, Sage, Lemon Grass, Peppermint, Yerba Matte and Thyme. This invention provides a cost-effective way for consumers to make their own high-quality smoking articles using their choice of herbal or flavored smoking materials. The product consists one or more sheets of heavy-gauge hemp paper, which is distinct and different in gauge, composition, size, color and weight from hemp cigarette papers on the market. Each hemp paper sheet has a cellophane or plastic sheet to protect the hemp paper. Single or multiple smoking articles are enclosed in a plastic or foil package.

The present invention achieves improved usage and smoking characteristics by combining: industrial hemp, cellulose fiber, methyl-hydroxy ethyl cellulose, carboxy methyl cellulose, propylene glycol, glycerol, citric acid and triamine polymer. That combination also achieves a wrap that is flexible and easy for consumers to roll. Methyl-hydroxy ethyl cellulose is a gelling, thickening and water-retaining chemical derived from cellulose, which has been previously used in foods and as a binder in construction adhesives. Methyl-hydroxy ethyl cellulose is available from various chemical companies, include Dow Chemical's WALOCEL™. Carboxy methyl cellulose is an emulsifier that is used in ice cream, other foods and non-food products. Propylene glycol and glycerol have been previously used as humectants and preservatives for tobacco products. Citric acid is used as a preservative in foods. Triamine polymer has been used as cross-linking agent and filler for paper compounds. See e.g. Eldin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,145,247.

The color of the present invention is either without bleaching or coloring, so as to be the color of industrial hemp, or is colored to be natural in appearance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated by the attached drawings and are explained in the description of the related art, detailed description of the present invention and claims. Applicant hereby reserves the right to submit formal drawings during or after examination.

Drawing No. 1 illustrates industrial hemp fiber that is created from the stems and stalks of hemp plants, prior to processing into industrial hemp paper sheets.

Drawing No. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, showing an industrial hemp fiber sheet (10), with a wrapper layer sheet of industrial hemp fiber (20), a binder layer sheet of industrial hemp fiber (30), and an adhesive edge (40).

Drawing No. 3 illustrates an embodiment of present invention, showing an industrial hemp fiber sheet (10), with a cellophane sheet (50) and an adhesive edge (40), wrapped around a central form (60).

Drawing No. 4 illustrates an embodiment and the use of the present invention, showing an industrial hemp fiber sheet (10) with an adhesive edge (40) as it would be filled with herbal smoking material (70) by the user.

Drawing No. 5 illustrates an embodiment and the use of the present invention, showing an industrial hemp fiber sheet (10) with an adhesive edge (40), which has been filled with herbal smoking material (70) as it would be rolled by the user.

Drawing No. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, showing a completed smoking article (80), with the industrial hemp fiber sheet (10) containing herbal smoking material (70).

Drawing No. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, showing an industrial hemp fiber sheet (10), with a wrapper layer sheet of industrial hemp fiber (20), a binder layer sheet of industrial hemp fiber (30), and an adhesive edge (40), where the industrial hemp fiber sheet (10) is a trapezoidal shape.

Drawing No. 8 illustrates an embodiment and the use of the present invention, showing an industrial hemp fiber sheet (10) with an adhesive edge (40), which has been filled with herbal smoking material (70) as it would be rolled by the user, where the industrial hemp fiber sheet (10) is a trapezoidal shape.

Drawing No. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention, showing a package (90) with a resealing means (100), containing an industrial hemp fiber sheet (10) wrapped around a central form (60).

Drawing No. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, showing a package (90) with a resealing means (100), containing multiple hemp fiber sheets (10), each of which is wrapped around a central form (60).

Drawing No. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, showing a hard case package (110) with a lid (120), a hinge (130) and a closing means (140), containing multiple hemp fiber sheets (10), each of which is wrapped around a central form (60).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This smoking article in the preferred embodiment consists of a single layer or multi-layer hemp paper sheet wrapped around a central form, which is made of hemp, other organic materials, sanitary materials or plastic, with a cellophane wrapper, and with single or multiple smoking articles contained in a plastic or foil package.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a single hemp paper sheet is wrapped around a central form made of a plastic material and is contained in a plastic or foil package.

The hemp paper sheet for this smoking article is made of industrial hemp paper which consists of two parts, a binder and a wrapper with strips of adhesive on the sides, which is placed on a sheet of cellophane in another embodiment of this invention.

The central form (20) may be solid or hollow.

In another embodiment of this smoking article, the plastic or foil package includes a resealing means, including but not limited to a “zip-loc” or adhesive seal.

In one version of this smoking article, the hemp paper sheet has dimensions of up to 67 mm wide and up to 107 mm length.

In another embodiment of the invention, materials other than cellophane or plastic are used as the wrapper of each of the hemp paper sheets.

The hemp paper sheet of this smoking article may have adhesive on one or two opposing sides of the hemp paper sheet to enable the user to stick the sides of the together to complete the smoking article.

Although applicant has disclosed a number of embodiments herein, it should be understood that many other variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Other combinations and variations of the features, sizes, dimensions, materials, components and properties are also included within the scope of the claims, pursuant to the doctrine of equivalents. Accordingly, no limitation on the invention is intended by way of the description and drawings, except as set forth in the claims. 

I claim:
 1. A non-tobacco, non-THC, heavy gauge, almost exclusively industrial hemp smoking article, comprising a sheet of hemp paper, which is designed to be contain legal herbs, including one or more of Damiana, Valerian, Passion Flower, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Chamomile, Green Tea, Sage, Lemon Grass, Peppermint, Yerba Matte, Thyme or other non-tobacco smoking materials.
 2. The smoking article of claim 1, where the sheet of hemp paper comprises industrial hemp, cellulose fiber, methyl-hydroxy ethyl cellulose, carboxy methyl cellulose, propylene glycol, glycerol, citric acid and triamine polymer.
 3. The smoking article of claim 1, where the sheet of hemp paper contains ingredients to maintain flexibility and moistness.
 4. The smoking article of claim 1, where the sheet of hemp paper is thicker and more durable than prior smoking articles.
 5. The smoking article of claim 1, where the sheet of hemp paper is almost exclusively comprised of hemp.
 6. The smoking article of claim 1, where the sheet of hemp paper is larger than prior smoking articles.
 7. The smoking article of claim 1, where the sheet of hemp paper does not contain salts, bleach, calcium carbonate or chemicals to increase the burn rate of the smoking article.
 8. The smoking article of claim 1, where the sheet of hemp paper does not contain flax, eucalyptus, esparto, rice or bleached pine sulfate chemical pulp. 